News Wrap: Government to drop tax claims and audits of Trump

Geoff Bennett:

Well, there are new details on that deal the IRS and Justice Department struck with President Trump.

The U.S. government has agreed to drop any tax claims and audits of the president, his sons, the Trump Organization, to include -- according to a letter signed by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. It comes a day after the government announced a $1.8 billion so-called anti-weaponization fund to compensate some of the president's allies.

Our justice correspondent, Ali Rogin, joins us now with the latest.

So, Ali, let's talk about this provision that bars the IRS from looking into the president and his family. What more do you know about it?

Ali Rogin:

Yes, this document appears to have been released this morning. It says that the IRS is -- quote -- "forever banned and precluded from reviewing any tax returns filed by the president, his family members, or his businesses."

This, Geoff, is part of that larger agreement that President Trump agreed to drop this $10 million lawsuit against the IRS after leaks of his confidential tax returns several years ago. The document says that this applies to -- quote -- "any matters currently pending or that could be pending."

That's definitely not language that is very clear. I spent part of this afternoon trying to figure out what that meant. The DOJ told me this afternoon that it means that this agreement only applies to tax returns that have already been filed, not to future returns.

I also spoke this afternoon to former IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, who said the language in this document was -- quote -- "designed to be impenetrable." And the fact that it was released a day after the DOJ made this big announcement about this settlement and this $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund suggests that they were trying to sneak it by the public, as Koskinen told me.

It's worth mentioning, though, that President Trump has long complained and claimed that the IRS has been auditing him even well before he became president the first time. It's standard for the IRS to audit presidents each year.

But a House Judiciary -- a House Democratic investigation a few years back actually found that, during President Trump's first term in office, the IRS only began one audit of one year of his tax returns, Geoff.

Geoff Bennett:

OK, Ali Rogin, our thanks to you.

Ali Rogin:

You bet.

Geoff Bennett:

On Capitol Hill today, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the creation of the nearly $1.8 billion so-called anti-weaponization fund as part of that IRS settlement.

It's meant to compensate Trump supporters who say they have been unfairly treated by the U.S. justice system.

Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI):

And you're the president's consigliere.

Todd Blanche, Acting U.S. Attorney General:

Your perspective is completely wrong, Senator, respectfully.

Sen. Jack Reed:

Well, I think the facts will prove me right.

Geoff Bennett:

During an at times contentious Senate hearing, Blanche pledged what he called full transparency on who will receive payments. But Democrats slammed the fund as an illegal abuse of power.

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen called it an illegal, corrupt self-dealing scheme that could even benefit January 6 rioters, among others.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD):

Yesterday you created a $1.8 billion slush fund to dole out taxpayer dollars to the president's supporters, including those who attacked this Capitol on January 6. That is pure theft of public funds.

Todd Blanche:

And, by the way, it is true that this is unusual. That is true. But it is not unprecedented. And it was done to address something that had never happened again either.

Geoff Bennett:

During a White House briefing, Vice President J.D. Vance was also asked about the fund and the possibility of taxpayer money going to those convicted of January 6 and related crimes.

Vice President J.D. Vance:

We're just going to look at every case, case by case. That's all I'm saying. I'm not committing to giving anybody money or committing to giving no one money. What I'm committing to is a legal process to review these claims and to make sure that people who were mistreated by their government get a little bit of compensation because of it.

Geoff Bennett:

But even some top Republicans say they need more details about how this fund will work. Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters today that he is -- quote -- "not a big fan."

President Trump is throwing his support behind Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in next week's Senate run-off, rather than the Republican incumbent, John Cornyn.

In a lengthy social media post, Mr. Trump called Paxton a true MAGA warrior and said that he "has gone through a lot, in many cases very unfairly, but he is a fighter and knows how to win."

Mr. Trump is backing Paxton despite his numerous scandals. He's been indicted for fraud and was impeached and later acquitted by Texas state legislators. The winner of next week's run-off will face Democratic nominee state Representative James Talarico in November.

In California, more than 17,000 people were still under evacuation orders today, as a wildfire threatens homes northwest of Los Angeles. The so-called Sandy Fire has now burned at least 1,300 acres in the hills above Simi Valley. And at last check, it was only about 5 percent contained.

The blaze erupted yesterday and quickly spread due at least in part to wind gusts topping 30 miles per hour. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The head of the World Health Organization says he is deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. During their latest update in Geneva, authorities said there are now more than 500 suspected cases of the rare type of the disease and more than 130 suspected deaths.

Health experts and aid workers say the virus went undetected for weeks as authorities tested for another more common type of Ebola. And that's left residents there living in fear.

Legende Buhendwa, Motor Bus Driver (through interpreter):

I'm afraid of bringing the disease home to my family, because I spend the whole day transporting people. I'm afraid of dying. That is what scares me so much.

Geoff Bennett:

The U.S. State Department announced a fund today to establish up to 50 Ebola response clinics in the DRC and Uganda. Americans are advised to avoid travel to affected areas, and the CDC says the risk to the U.S. remains low.

Federal agents can no longer make arrests in and around New York City's immigration courts after a federal judge largely banned the practice from three Manhattan buildings.

In the ruling, the court wrote that while -- quote -- "There is a strong governmental interest in enforcing immigration laws, there is also a serious interest in allowing migrants to pursue asylum claims without fear of arrest."

The decision follows months of dramatic scenes in courthouse hallways as individuals were arrested as they showed up for their immigration proceedings. But the court made clear federal agents can still make arrests if there is a threat to public safety.

The nation's largest commuter rail system is up and running again after a tentative deal was reached to settle a strike at the Long Island Railroad. The first trains left shortly after noon today. Before that, tens of thousands of commuters faced a second day of travel headaches. The strike started on Saturday with workers calling for a pay raise in their long-running contract negotiations.

The walkout was the first for the LIRR since the 1990s. The rail system serves around 250,000 riders each weekday between New York City and Long Island.

On Wall Street today, stocks pulled back further from their recent highs. The Dow Jones industrial average fell more than 300 points on the day. The Nasdaq gave back more than 200 points. The S&P 500 posted its third straight loss.